Gear-operated socket wrench



Sept. 29, 1959 E. A. ERB 2,906,153

GEAR-OPERATED SOCKET WRENCH Filed April 28, 1958 I, l3 jjjfjjii i 1: 2

L" 9 l4 M Edward A. Erb

1N VEN TOR.

BY 2mm amt WW M United States Patent GEAR-OPERATED SOCKET WRENCH EdwardA. Erb, Port Orford, Oreg.

Application April 28, 1958, Serial No. 731,239

1 Claim. (Cl. 81-57) The present invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in socket wrenches of the geared type and has for one ofits important objects to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth,a tool of this character which may be readily used in ordinarilyinaccessible or diificult locations.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a geared socketwrench of the aforementioned character wherein added power may be hadwhen desired.

Still another important object of the present invention is to provide asocket wrench of the character described which may be swung in themanner of a ratchet wrench or held stationary and operated.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a socket wrench of thecharacter set forth which will be comparatively simple in construction,strong, durable, compact, of light weight and which may be manufacturedat low cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a socket wrench constructed in accordancewith the present invention;

Figure 2 is a View in longitudinal section through the tool, takensubstantially on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view partially in side elevation and partially inlongitudinal section through the tool, showing the parts separated; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view, showing the additional power handle inposition.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that theembodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises anannular metallic housing 5 of suitable dimensions. One end portion ofthe annular housing 5 has formed therein a substantially conical recessor chamber 6 the purpose of which will be presently set forth. Thehousing 5 further includes a substantially conical peripheral socket 7which communicates with the chamber 6, said socket 7 including acylindrical outer portion constituting a bearing 8. Projecting radiallyfrom the housing 5 is a rod or shaft 9 which is centrally located in thesocket 7.

Rotatably mounted in the housing 5 is a cylindrical socket member 10 forthe reception of a conventional wrench socket. The closed end of thesocket member 10 has formed integrally therewith a beveled gear 11 whichis operable in the chamber or recess 6. Threaded on the other or openend portion of the socket member 10 is a retaining nut 12 which isengageable with the adjacent end of the housing 5. A set screw 13secures the nut 12.

Journaled on the rod or shaft 9 is a tubular handle 14 of suitablemetal. The forward end portion of the tubular handle 14 is journaled inthe bearing 8. Formed in- "ice tegrally with the forward end of thehandle 14 is a beveled gear 15 which is operable in the socket 7 andwhich is engaged with the gear 11. The rear end portion of the rod orshaft 9 is provided with a threaded socket 16 for the reception of ascrew 17, said screw comprising a knurled head 18 which is engaged withthe rear end of the handle 14 for retaining the gear 15 in engagementwith the gear 11. A set screw 19 is threadedly mounted in the head 18 ofthe screw 17 and engaged with the rear end of the rod or shaft 9 forretaining said screw 17 in adjusted position. Adjacent its forward end,the handle 14 has formed integrally therewith a polygonal head or collar20 the purpose of which will be presently set forth.

It is thought that the use of the tool as thus far described will bereadily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, aconventional wrench socket of the desired size is inserted in the socketmember 10. This wrench socket (not shown) is engaged with the nut orbolt to be turned in the usual manner. The tubular handle 14 is thenturned on the rod or shaft 9 for rotating the socket member 10 throughthe gears 15 and 11. Or, gripping and holding the handle 14 againstrotation on the rod or shaft 9, the operator may turn the nut or bolt byswinging said handle in the manner of a ratchet Wrench.

For additional power, a tubular extension handle 21 is provided. Thehandle 21 is telescopically engageable over the handle 14- andcomprises, on its forward end, a polygonal socket 22 for the receptionof the polygonal head or collar 20 on said handle 14. The rear endportion of the extension handle 21 is apertured for the reception of anoperating handle or lever 23.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. modifications and changes will readily occur to thoseskilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to theexact construction and operation shown and described, and accordinglyall suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, fallingwithin the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A wrench comprising a circular housing open at its ends, said housinghaving a generally conical recess in one end portion thereofcommunicating therewith and further having a substantially conicalperipheral socket therein communicating with the recess and including acylindrical portion providing a bearing, a socket member rotatablymounted in the housing, a beveled gear on one end of the socket memberoperable in the recess, a retaining nut threaded on the other endportion of the socket member, a radial shaft on the housing extendingcentrally through the bearing, a tubular handle rotatable on said shaftand journaled in the bearing, a beveled gear on one end of said tubularhandle rotatable in the peripheral socket and engaged with the firstnamed gear for operatively connecting the handle to the socket member,and means removably securing the handle on the shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,326,391 Church Dec. 30, 1919 1,416,271 Devos May 16, 1922 1,462,246Renick July 17, 1923 1,494,200 Waters May 13, 1924 1,526,502 Pilger Feb.17, 1925 2,042,376 Balga May 26, 1936 2,206,802 Brenning July 2, 19402,284,871 Huss June 2, 1942 Further, since numerous,

